Fire nozzle



J. O'HANLON FIRE NOZZLE March 25, 1930,

Filed June 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOSEPH O HANLON A15attorfle'ys J. o HANLON March 25, 1930.

FIRE NOZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27, 1928 INVENTOR N ww. NM Ar 2a L H 4 P E 4 S O J Pat tented Mar. 25, 1930 J'OSEPE OBANLON, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK nan nozznn Application. filed June 27 This inventionis in a firemans nozzle and is particularly concerned with a nozzle tobe attached to the end of a hose or a pipe to cause discharge of waterat an angle to 6 the hose.- Another object of the invention is toproduce a firemans nozzle which has no back' pressure.

The profession of fire-fighting is unique in the character of theproblems it faces. N

10 two buildings are alike nor were there ever two fires in them whichwere alike. No- Where; else can one find the ever changing situations,the unexpected conditions calling for instant cool decision andadaptation of attack in spite of excitement, heat, gas and smoke.Nowhere else must the delivery and direction of a stream of water bechanged without the loss of appreciable time, as must take place ineliective fire-fighting. The entire character of a fire may changeseveral times within as many minutes,'and ex erienced fire-fi hters knowit is im ossib e to i: tell with w at they will be face from one minuteto the next. Few tools actually are The too must be sim le, portable, ofuniversal applicability an highly efiicient. In the field of the presentinvention-namely the nozzle used on the end of the hose linethere hasbeen ractically no change for many years, despite the obvious,inadequacy of the nozzles now used.

According to the best ractice the first engine company to reach t escene of a fire is generally supposed to take a line-of hose into thebuilding, and if ssible to direct the stream of water onto the cart ofthe fire and to follow the fire in its course of travel. This line mustbe stretched in without a seconds hesitation or consideration ofconditions. This stretching of hose is ordinarily a matter of routineand the company is in the building almost instantly 100 ing for theblaze. Heretofore entry has been made with a socalled controlling orvalve nozzle on the end of the line. One example of this ifipe of nozzleis shown in the U. S. patent to I ansen 1,236,297, dated August 7, 1917.This nozzle reduces the diameter of the stream from say 5 2 inches to 1%inches, and projects only able to ualify under these severe conditions.

1928. serial No. 288,743.

a straight stream. It consists of a nozzle portion which reduces thediameter of the stream, attached to the end of the hose, a valve portionhaving a controlling handle, and a tip on the outer end.

In firefighting, access to the seat of the fire is frequently notobtainable, either because the fire is too dangerous, or because it I isin concealed spaces of the bui1ding,0r

separated from the firemen by a wall, floor -the direction of the streamrelative to the hose, the plain and controlling nozzles are uselessbecause they can throw only straight streams. No suitable tool forthrowing the stream at an angleto the hose has yet been designed whichin any way ap roaches the efliciency of the contro ling nozz e. The needof chan n the direction of the stream rela tive to t e ose arises incellar fires and subcellar fires fires in ad'oining rooms, fires incocklofts, fires, under oors, or in walls, artitions and ceilings.Various tools have een designed to take care of these situations, but noone tool is of universal applicability and none has the efiicienc of astraight nozzle. v Thus, as frequent y happens, one of the companies resending on a first alarm goes into the buil 'ng, and after fighting theflames for a few minutes discovers that although they cannot get intothe cellar it, is necessary to throw the stream of water into the cellarin a horizontal direction. It is then necessary to send word back to thepumping engine, shut off the water, take off the controlling nozzle,screw ona so-called bent cellar pipe, or perhaps a cellar pi e such asshown in the patent. to Baker 0. 535,478 dated March 12, 1895, thrustthe device through a hole cut in the floor, and then send word back tothe engine to: start pumping again. The shutting ofl of the stream whilethese changes are being made frequently permits spread of the fire,because the change is generally made at a crucial moment in the battleagainst the flames. These cellar devices, when attached, are not capableof throwing a satisfactory stream and heretofore the firemen have beenbadly handicapped whenever a straight nozzle could not be used. In orderto take care of all the various situations in which it is necessary tothrow the stream at an angle to the hose, the average fire departmenthas to carry at least four or five different tools, each for a slightlydifferent situation. None of these devices has an hydraulic efliciencyapproaching that of a straight nozzle, nor am I aware of any tool thatcan be used to throw a solid stream on a cellar fire and which can beput on the hose line without shutting down the pressure at -the engine.Neither am I aware of any tool 'which is adapted to meet all conditionsin which it is desired to throw a stream at an angle to the hose. Nor doI know of any such tool which also may be used with equal effectivenessto throw a straight stream.

It is an object of my invention to provide a universal firemans nozzlefor use in directing an effective stream at an angle to the part of thehose held by the fireman. and also capable of effective use when thestream is to be directed straight ahead.

Another object is to provide a firemans tool which will not decrease thehydraulic efiiciency and which will reduce back pressure, thuspermitting easier handling under higher pressures.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a coupling peculiarlysuited to con nect a firemans tool to thetip of the usual nozzle and toprovide a new nozzle tip adapted to cooperate with the same coupling topermit'quick attachment of the tool to the nozzle.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter and isillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section through the floor of abuliding showing the complete device in position to direct a streamunder a floor onto a cellar fire;

Figure 2 is a View on a larger scale of the tool showing one way ofattaching it to the usual nozzle;

Figure 3 is a view of a modified connection between the tool and thenozzle showing a nozzle tip especially designed to co-operate with thecoupling;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a complete tool detached from thenozzle;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the tool taken on the line 66 ofFigure 4;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of the joint between theflexible tube 12 and the rigid section 13 of the tool; while Figure 8 isa detail of the flexible tube when bent.

The nozzle and bracing means 15,16 itself comprises a tip 10, which maybe identical with the tip used on the usual nozzle, a union 11, aflexible metal tube 12 secured at one end in the union 11, a coupling 14on the other end of the nozzle. If desired there may be a section ofrigid tubing 13 between the tube 12 and the coupling 14. The flexibletube 12 may be of a known type. It has internal circumferential grooveswhich are shown as helical. In the example shown in the drawings thelength of the tube is such as to give a bend of 90 or thereabouts, andmay, if desired, be between 18 and 24 inches. Such a length of tube 1inches in diameter, when bent uniformly, gives a uniform radius ofcurvature equal to more than two and one half diameters of the pipe, itbeing found that for best hydraulic efliciency such a minimum ratio isnecessary.

A brace consisting of two rigid bars 15, 16 connects the union l1 andthe end of the rigid tubing 13 near the flexible tube 12. The bars aremounted to swing about studs 17, 18 on either side of the union 11 and,at their other ends, have longitudinal slots 19 which take over studs20, 21 on the end of the rigid tubing 13. Clamping screws 22, 23 engagethreads on the ends of studs 20, 21 and, when screwed against the bars15, 16, hold the bars firmly. This brace permits the flexible tube 2 tobe bent and kept at any desired angle or to be left straight, and makesthe flexible tube and the rest of the nozzle a rigid portable unit.

At an intermediate point on the brace is a U-member 24 having arms 25.26 swingably mounted on the bars 15, 16 respectively. A yoke 27 isattached to the center of the cross bar of member 24 by a nut 28threaded on a shank extending from the yoke through the cross bar. A pin29 extends through holes in the side pieces of the yoke 27 and isthreaded to receive a nut 30 which holds it in place. A chain 31 isattached to pin 29 and to a bar 32 so that the tool may be suspendedthrough a hole in a floor as shown in Figure 1. The bar and chain may beused in other ways as will be mentioned further on where the uses of thetool are described in greater detail.

The coupling 14, shown best in Figure 2, is designed for use with thestandard nozzle tip 33 of a controlling nozzle 34 of the sort shown inthe Hansen patent mentioned above. T his nozzle is in general use inpractically all fire departments and almost always has a head 35 of somesort at the discharge end of the tip. 7

he coupling consists of a sleeve internally threaded to fit the threadedend ofthe as sometimes occurs,

rigid tubing. One end is of greater external diameter, as at 36, and hasthree equally spaced tapped holes in which clamping screws 37 arethreaded. Two of these screws have shoulders at such a distance fromtheir inner ends that when screwed a ainst the portion 36 the screwsposition tTie tip 33 with its axis in line with the coupling axis. Thethird screw is then turned down against the tip to secure it in place.

A gasket 38 is provided to rest against the end of tubing 13. The nozzletip and the coupling are brought together with the end of the tipagainst the gasket 38. Screws 37 are then turned down to engage the tipin back of the bead 35. Before the screws are fully down, the couplingshould be turned relatively to the tubing 13 to draw the tip tightlyagainst the gasket and to bring the screws close up to the bead. Thismakes the joint watertight.

A modification is shown in Figure 3. In it, a special tip 40 is usedhaving, instead of a bead at its discharge end, a threaded portion 41'of enlarged diameter to fit the coupling 14. The same coupling 14 withthe clamping screws 37 is used, although the screws are not needed. Whenthis special tip is used, it is carried as part of the flexible nozzleand the controller nozzle 34 is provided with the usual tip 33. When thetool is to be put on the hose line, the valve in the nozzle 34 isclosed, the tip 33 removed and the tool with tip 40 is put on in itsplace. To facilitate this the tip 40 has a swivel union 42 threaded toengage the stem of the nozzle 34 from which tip 33 was removed. Thispermits attachment of the tool Without turning it bodily.

If the tip 33 has become jammed so'that it can not be removed, or if thethreads on the tip 40 are not the same as those of the nozzle, thespecial tip 40 may be removed from the coupling 14 with no difficultyand the tool may be attached to tip 33 by the screws 37 as in Figure 2.The attachment of the tool by removing the usual tip and replacing itwith a special tip carried with the tool has certain advantages in pointof speed if the tip 33 is not jammed. If it does jam, little time islost in resorting to the screw clamp coupling. The coupling to thespecial tip has certain advantages in that it provides a threaded joint.

A further modification of the tool is shown in Fig. 4. The rigid tubing13, which serves principally as a spacer, need not be always as long asis shown in Fig. 1. The length there shown permits the flexible portion12 to extend below the floor Without bringing the controlling nozzle,which must be operated by the firemen, into the opening in the floor. Inother situations, it is desirable to have the tool as shortas possible.To accommodate both needs a removable rigid section 45 is fightingcellar fires.

provided. A coupling 46 similar to coupling 14 is put at the end of theflexible tube 12 so that it may be attached directly to the nozzle tipor to the rigid spacer section 45, The spacer section 45 has a similarcoupling 47 at one end for attachment to the nozzle tip when the spaceritself is coupled to the flexible tube. Spacers of various lengths maybe provided if desired.

- It will be noted from the relative dimensions of the example shown,that all parts of the tool may have an internal diameter substantially.equal to that of the discharge end of the hp 33 and that this diameteris less than that of the hose line. The tool therefore provides ineffect a cylindrical extension of the minimum diameter of the standardcontrolling nozzle. The tip 10 at the end of the tool is slightlyconvergent internally to an inch and a quarter and may serve to form thejet as it leaves the tip.

The outstanding merit of the tool described above is its capability ofeffective use under the most difiicult and varied conditions. It isfound that when the flexible tube is bent, the hydraulic efficiency isnot noticeably different from that obtainable with the flexible tubestraight. A notable advantage present with this tool, whether bent orstraight, is that much higher pressures may be used than with thecontrolling nozzle or with the socalled play pipe than heretoforepossible.

The nozzle seems to have substantially no back pressure compared to anyother nozzle and as a result the line can be handled by fewer men athigher pressures.

Probably the most common need for a tool to throw a stream around thecorner is in With the new tool a stream can be delivered the full lengthof the average cellar, making it unnecessary for any one to enter thecellar and to expose himself to the dense smoke and gas commonly presentwith such fires. The tool may be introduced into the cellar through ahole in the floor to deliver a stream either lengthwise or crosswise ofthe beams, or it may be introduced through a window, hatchway or otheropening when it is not possible to reach the floor and to make a hole init.

The tool is of equal value in fighting fires within walls or betweenpartitions or in hallways where the heat or limited space preventsdirect approach to the fire. A similar use is found where a wall hasbeen breached, but because of heat, men cannot pass through. A streammay be put directly through the breach and also along the walls, thenozzle being held on the safe side of the breach. A similar condition ismet in roof fires when the hose is brought up over the coping. If themen cannot go onto the roof, the tool may be bent and a stream may bedelivered directly to the blaze. In ship or dock fires the tool makespossible effective delivery of the stream through portholes, orhatchways, or under t e pier.

. water, although none The chain attached to the brace bars acts as anporting means and permits mounting in ct er ways than that shown inFigure 1. For instance, it may be desired to throw a stream from onebuilding into another across a street or yard. The flexible tube maythen set straight, resting on a window sill, and the chain securedoutside the window.

The brace bars not only serve to hold the tool in the desired bentor'straightened position but they also prevent twisting of the flexiblesection. These bars and the cross inember 24 act as a nozzle holder andafford a convenient means by be grasped and held while in use underconditions which do not require that the tool itself be close to thefire. It will be obvious that other bracing means can be used to makethe flexible tube rigid.

The metal tubing preferably used for the flexible tube is fireproof andvery rugged so that it is admirably suited to the work. Its spiral i. e.helical construction may, it is thought, be an element contributing tothe high hydraulic efliciency of the tool, whether bent or straight.These shallow circumferential grooves have a beneficial influence inreducing the back pressure. It is also thought that when the nozzle isbent, based on the assumption that the spirally wound overlapuing.,material gives a slight whirl to the is apparent in the issuing jet,the spaces 48 between laps 49 on the outer wall of'the bend pocket thewater and resent, over a considerable area, a practically frictionlesssurface to the (Figure 8.) When these grooves are made helical the pitchis very rapid, the distance between consecutive grooves measuredlongitudinally of the tube preferably being considerably less than thediameter of the tube.

It will be apparent that while many advantages of the device are due tothe fact that it can be bent or left straight many of its advanta aswould be resent if the evice were not a justable. T e flexible tube,however, adds greatly to the number of uses to which the tool may be putsince the hydraulic efliciency is practically the same whether the toolis bent or not, and the tool may be kept on the nozzle after the aroundthe corner work is done. The ease with which the device may be held evenunder high pressures is a merit which is present both when the tool isstraight and when bent.

No attempt is made here to ex lain the theory of the device or toaccount ibr all of its characteristics such as the high hydraulicefliciency and apparent practical elimination of so-called backpressure.

It is clear that many variations in details are possible withoutdeparture from the substantial scope of the invention as defined inwhich the tool may,

thereof adapted to fix the stream.

the following claims. Where in the claims I speak of hose it should beunderstood to include a flexible hose or a rigid pipe, whether portableor in a fixed mounting.

I claim 1. A fire nozzle comprising a tip, a spirally woundflexiblemetallic tube on said tip of diameter substantially equal to theinter nal diameter of the tip, and a coupling on the other end of thetube, in combination with adjustable supportmeans attached to the tubeadjacent each end adapted to fix the distance between the ends of saidtube.

fire nozzle in accordance with claim 1 in which support means are rigidand attached to the ends of the tube at the side of the latter.

3. A fire nozzle comprising a flexible metallic tube in combination withadjustable rigid support means on both sides of said tube and attachedto the tube adjacent the ends distance between the points of attachment.I

4. A fire nozzle comprisin a spirally wound flexible metallic tube anrigid means constructed and arranged to be secured adjacent the ends ofsaid tubes to hold the latter m bent or straight position, incombination fire nozzle, comprising a flexible metallic tube, and athreaded coupling on one end thereof adapted to receive a conjugatethreaded male element, in combination with a tapered tip adapted togather the stream on the other end of the tube and of substantially thesame internal diameter as the tube.

7. A fire nozzle comprising a metal'tube whose interior is groovedcircumferentially, the distance between consecutive grooves measured lon'tudinally of the tube being less than the iameter of the tube,-incombi-: nation with a coupling on one'end of said tube, and a taperedtip on the other end of said tube adapted to gather the stream.

8. A fire nozzle comprising a helically wound flexible metallic tube ofuniform diameter in which the helical windings form grooves on theinside whose pitch is less than the diameter of the tube, in combinationwith a tapered tip to gather the stream on one end' of the tube and acoupling on the other end.

9. A fire nozzle having a tapered tip to gather the stream together, incombination with a flexible metallic tube of uniform internal diameterof the order of the tip to which'it is attached, and a hose connectionon the other end of the tube.

10. A fire nozzle having a tapered tip to a' metallicitube gather thestream together,

interior of said tube havinggrooves, each groove circling the tube in adistance lessthan the diameter of the tube.

11. A fire nozzle having a-Jg ered. tip to gather the stream together, amet'allictube of to gather the stream and a flexible metallic tubeattached thereto, in combination with support means attached to the tubeadjacent each end and makingthe nozzle a rigid unit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification; JOSEPHOHANLON.

uniform internal diameter of the order of that of the tip to which it isattached said tube having aminimum radius .of curvature of more than twoand one-half times its internal diameter, and a straight connection onthe other end of the tube for attaching to a hose substantially greaterin diameter than the tube.

12. A fire nozzle comprising a coupling, in combination with a flexiblemetallic tube attached thereto at one end, the minimum radius ofcurvature of said tube being more than two and one-half times theinternal diameter of the tube and the length of said tube being suchthat it may be bent 'to a curve of 90, a tapered tip on the other end ofsaid metallic tube, and adjustable support means permitting the tube tobe bent throughout its length and making a rigid unit of the nozzle.-

13. A fire nozzle comprising a flexible metallic tube, a coupling on oneend of said tube and a tapered tip on the other, in combination withadjustable support means attached to the tube adjacent each end,ermitting the tube to be bent throughout its ength and fixing thedistance between the ends.

14. A fire'nozzle having a tapered tip to gather the stream together, aflexible metallic tube of internal diameter of the order of the "tip towhich it is attached, said tube being formed of helically woundover-lapping material forming recesses on the interior of the tube whosewidth is varied as the tube is flexed.

15. A fire nozzle having a tapered tip to ather the stream together, incombination with a tube of uniform diameter of the order of the tip towhich it is attached, said tube having a uniform minimum radius ofcurvature throughout its length.

16. A 'fire nozzle having a tapered tip to gather the stream together, aflexible metallic tube of internal diameter of the order of the tip towhich it is attached, said tube being formed of helically woundoverlapping material forming recesses on the interior of the tube whosewidth is varied as the tube is flexed, together with a straightconnection on an end of the tube for attaching a hose.

17. A fire nozzle having a tapered tip to gather the stream together, incombination 18. A fire nozzle comprising a tapered tip

